Package suspender crossover unit



g 1942- M. R. JOYCE 2,291,901

PACKAGE SUSPENDER CROSS-OVER UNIT Filed April 28, 1941 Patented Aug. 4, 1942 1 UNITED ST TBS,

PACKAGE SUSPENDER CROSSOVER UNIT Marion Rogers Joyce, Greensboro, N. 0., assignor to William I. Blanton, Greenville, S. 0.

This invention relates to the prefabrication and packaging of the elastic webbing section units of suspender cross-overs of the interlaced type. The invention includes both the package and the method of producing the same, and the term,

package is herein employed to designate the unitarily associated sections of elastic webbing.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my copending application Serial No. 341,756, filed June 21, 1940. e

The conventional interlaced suspender crossover consists of two pair of side by side short lengths of elastic, freely intersecting in interlaced relation at an intermediate point in the lengt of each pair, forming the letter X.

In the manufacture of suspenders, the opposite ends of these side by side pairs are inserted into the tubular ends of the denim portions of the suspenders and are stitched in place.

The usual method; of manufacture requires the stitching operator to handle four separate pieces of elastic webbing, or eight ends. She must hold these elastic webbing pieces, two at a time, in side by side relation, and insert the two ends of the elastic pieces at one end of the side by side pain" into the tubular button tab and stitch them in place. It is difiicult to force these ends into the opening in the denim tube, and it is. more than likely that the ends of the elastic webbing lengths will slip out of transverse alignment so that the,

stitching may miss one end altogether or come so close to the raw edge of one. of the ends as to miss catching the rubber strands which frequently withdraw themselves a short distance inwardly of the cut edge of the webbing, due to the inherent tendency of the rubber filamentsto contract.

Both pairs of webbing sectionshaveto be separately inserted and stitched into. the button tabs in this manner. If the ends anchoredin the button tabs are in transverse misalignment,this of course, similarly affects the opposite ends, and if the operator attempts to correctly align the opposite ends when inserting them into the tubular shoulder straps, then a bulge is created in to avoid these difficulties by furnishing the suspender manufacturer with the elastic webbing cross-over sections already united at the point of intersection of their adjacent ends with their adjacent side edges, whereby when they are in side by side position their united ends will be mechanically held in proper transverse alignment both during the operation of inserting the elastic webbing sections into the tubular denim and throughout the operation of stitching the said sections in place.

Another object of the invention'is to provide the elastic webbing cross-over sections already fixed in side by side pairs with the ends in correct transverse alignment. 7 Inasmuch as the purpose of the invention is fulfilled when the crossover is built into the suspender; the uniting means for holding the-elastic webbing sections in correct transverse end alignment may be, but is not necessarily, of temporary character.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

The drawing which'accompanies and forms'a part, of the following specification illustrates several package forms in which it is contemplated to furnish the paired, united side by side'and end aligned elastic webbing cross-over sections to th suspender manufacturer.

Figure 1 shows in elevation, a complete prefabricated cross-over;

Figure 2 shows in elevation, complementarypairs of elastic webbing cross-over sections which can be fabricated into a complete cross-over at the suspender factory with a minimum amount of manipulation;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation, of a package pair of elastic webbing strips which may be' severed at the intermediate point indicated. by the transverse broken line to produce complementary pairs of cross-over sections similar to thosershown in Figure 2; I

Figures 4 and 6 are. views in perspective showing pair units with different means for temporarily securing them in side by side relation and correct endalignment;

Figure 5 is a View similar to. Figure 1 showing cross-over sections of package pairs of the type illustrated in Figure 4, with parts broken away to illustrate the manner of inserting and attaching the elastic members of the suspenders-in and to the inelastic members thereof.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 6,

the lower portions of the elastic webbing lengths means for securing the elastic webbing lengths together;

Figure 7 is a view in elevation showing a package pair of elastic webbing cross-over lengths secured in side by side relation and correct end alignment by a spot of suitable adhesive;

Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure '7, showing the elastic webbing sections united in correct side by side relation and end alignment by a bridge of stitching;

Figure 9 is a View in elevation showing a pair of elastic webbing cross-over sections defined by a transverse out which almost, but not quite, severs the sections, leaving a small selvage connection about which the sections may be rotated as indicated by the arrow, to bring them into correct side by side relation and end alignment; and

Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 9, showing the two elastic webbing sections of Figure 9 bent about the point of selvage connection into side by side relationship.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, and first adverting to that form of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, the numerals I, 2, 3 and 4, represent narrow elastic webbing sections of equal length and arranged in pairs, as shown. Instead of these sections being cut from a roll at the suspender factory andindividually manipulated to form the cross-over and building it into the suspenders, the sections are here shown arranged in prefabricated pairs, the sections of one pair being interlaced with the sections of the other pair, as shown, and maintained in side by side relation and in correct end alignment by means of the end bonds 5. These end bonds may be of any suitable substance, such for example as paper, Cellophane, adhesive tape, or any other suitable fabric, adhesively applied, but in this form of the invention the bond contemplated is of a viscous and preferably flexible adhesive such as latex, rubber cement, or the like, which is suitably applied and preferably permitted to impregnate or penetrate the meshes of the webbing fabric so as to directly contact and embed the rubber strands Within said fabric. The adhesive film or layer is preferably of such character as to harden or set, but retaining its flexibility so that when the bonded ends are inserted into the denim and the rows of stitching passed through the denim and the adhesively bonded ends of the paired elastic webbing sections, the stitching is cushioned by the adhesive layer and thereby in a great measure protected from the stitches cutting or breaking against the harsh surface of the webbing. Although the adhesive bond will last indefinitely, its main purpose is to assure that no misalignment in the ends of the elastic webbing sections will occur through the .act of inserting them into the denim, and until they are united to the denim by stitching.

It will be observed that the completely prefabricated cross-over shown in Figure 1 has chamfered or beveled corners 6 to facilitate the insertion of the ends of the cross-over into the tubular denim and the adhesive bond has a stiffening effect upon the webbing fabric which also assists in making it easy to insert.

In building this cross-over into the suspender, the operator simply applies the button tabs to the lower ends I and 8, stitching them in place, and then applies the shoulder straps to the upper ends 9 and Ill, likewise connecting them to the suspenders by stitching.

In that form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the package comprises the complementary prefabricated pairs II and I2 of elastic webbing sections. The sections of the package pair H are united at both ends in the same manner as that illustrated and described in connection with Figure 1, but the package pair I2 is left unbonded at one end l3, so that the interlacing of the sections of the pairs may be done by the stitching operator at the suspender factory. In this form of the invention the button tabs of the suspenders will be stitched to the ends l4 and I5. Then one of the shoulder straps will be stitched to the end l6. Next, the free ends of the elastic webbing sections of package pair l2 will be inserted through the slot l6 between the elastic webbing sections of the package pair II, one from above and one from below, thus accomplishing the interlacing of the elastic webbing sections, and then the free ends of the elastic webbing sections of package pair l2 are inserted in the other shoulder strap and stitched in place. Inasmuch as the opposite ends of the elastic webbing sections of package pair l2 are bonded together in accurate end alignment and the elastic webbing sections are of the same length, it is impossible that the free ends of said sections will get out of alignment when inserting them in the shoulder strap.

Figure 3 illustrates a package unit in which both of the complementary cross-over pairs I! and [8, similar to the pairs H and I2 of Figure 2, are furnished in an integral piece. It will be observed that in this form of the invention the webbing sections I9 andlll are of double length, arranged in side by side relation, and maintained in such relation and in correct end alignment by an adhesive patch 20 at one end, and by an additional adhesive patch 2| at the middle. By cutting through the middle along the broken line 22 which intersects the patch 2|, the two pairs are separated, the pair I1 being bonded at both ends similar to the pair I l in Figure 2, while the pair I3 is bonded only at one end, similar to the pair 12 of Figure 2. The manner of fabricating these package pairs of elastic webbing sections into a suspender cross-over, and building it into the suspenders is the same as has been described in connection with Figure 2.

Now, referring to Figures 4, 6, 7, 8 and 11, these illustrate various means for bonding the elastic webbing sections inside by side relation andcorrect end alignment. In Figure 4 an adhesive patch 23 extends completely across the pair of elastic webbing sections, at one end and on one side only. Figure 5 shows package pairs of the type shown in Figure 4 built into suspenders, and illustrates in general the method of inserting and attaching any of the forms of the invention into the inelastic members of the suspenders. The button tabs are indicated at 24 and 25 and the shoulder straps at 26 ,and 21. It will be noted that these inelastic members are tubular, and that the bonded end is first inserted and stitched and then the opposite or free end is inserted and stitched. The fact that the elastic webbing sections at one end are automatically maintained in end alignment assures that the other ends will be in correct alignment also, inasmuch as'the elastic webbing sections are of the same length.

In Figure 11 the bonding member takes the form of an adhesive patch28 which is folded around the aligned ends of the side by side elastic webbing sections and adhesively united on both sides. The bonding element 29shown in Figure 6 differs from that of Figure 11 solely in its being two independent pieces adhesively applied on opposite sides of the side by side and end aligned elastic webbing members.

Figure 7 shows a pair of side by side and end aligned elastic webbing sections 30 and 3! which are maintained in correct position by a daub of adhesive 32 applied at one end, and involving the adjacent selvage edges of the elastic webbing sections.

Figure 8 shows a form of the invention in which the elastic webbing sections are held in correct relative position by being stitched together near the top, the stitch being indicated by the reference character 33.

In Figure 9 a form of the invention is shown in which the package pair consists of the elastic webbing sections 34 and 35 in an integral piece of double length almost but not quite divided by a transverse cut 36, leaving a narrow connection 31 adjacent one selvage edge. This connection serves as an axis of rotation about which one of the elastic webbing sections may be rotated to bring said sections to side by side relationship, as shown in Figure 10. The edges of the elastic webbing forming the sides of the cut 36 become the transversely aligned ends of the elastic fabric sections 35 and 34 in Figure 10.

This package pair may be sold with the parts en echelon, as shown in Figure 9, or folded along the line of cut 36 with their flat faces in contact, or rotated to a position of side by side relationship, as shown in Figure 10.

It is quite obvious that the invention may be exemplified in many other embodiments, all of which are understood to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Prefabricated webbing units for suspenders comprising webbing sections in predetermined side by side position, and an elastic adhesive film commonly incorporating and uniting the adjacent end portions of said sections, holding them in said predetermined position.

2. Prefabricated webbing units for suspenders comprising webbing sections in predetermined side by side position, and a flexible adhesive film commonly incorporating and uniting the adjacent end portions of said sections so as to hold them together in said predetermined position and form a cushion for the transverse stitching which will be applied to said end portions in uniting them to cooperating suspender elements.

3. Prefabricated webbing units for suspenders each comprising webbing sections in predetermined side by side position, said sections including rubber filaments, and an anti-raveling flexible adhesive film commonly incorporating and impregnating the adjacent end portions of said sections, holding them together in said predetermined position, and anchoring the fabric threads and rubber filaments of the webbing against relative displacement.

4. Prefabricated webbing units for suspenders comprising a pair of members, each member con sisting of a plurality of sections of webbing arranged side by side with cementitious films at the ends of said members each commonly incorporating the adjacent end portions of said sections and uniting them to maintain them in predetermined side by side relation, the sections of the pairs of members being interlaced.

5. Prefabricated webbing units for suspenders each comprising a, pair of members, each member consisting of a plurality of sections of Webbing arranged in side by side relation, and films of flexible cementitious substance at the ends of said members, each commonly incorporating the end portions of said sections uniting them to maintain them in a predetermined side by side relation and forming a cushion for the transverse stitching which will be applied to said end portions in uniting them to cooperating suspender elements, the sections of the pairs of members being interlaced.

6. Prefabricated webbing units for suspenders each comprising a pair of members, each member consisting of a plurality of sections of elastic webbing having rubber filaments, arranged side by side, and flexible cementitious films at the ends of said members, each incorporating in common, and impregnating, the end portions of said sections, uniting them to maintain them in predetermined side by side relation and anchoring the ends of the rubber filaments, the sections of the pairs of members being interlaced.

7. A prefabricated webbing unit for suspenders comprising webbing sections arranged side by side in predetermined. spaced parallel relationship, and an interconnecting binder of flexible adhesive material impregnating the webbing sections at each end so as to fix the threads thereof against relative movement, form an elastic cushion for stitching in securing them to cooperating suspender elements, and holding the webbing sections in predetermined spaced relationship.

8. A pair of prefabricated webbing units adapted to be interlaced, one of said units comprising a plurality of spaced parallel webbing sections united at each end by a flexible adhesive binder holding said webbing sections in fixed relationship, and the other of said units comprising similar Webbing sections united at one end only by a flexible adhesive binding holding the webbing sections. united in spaced relationship at such end of the unit, the opposite ends of the webbing sections of said unit being free to adapt the same to be threaded through the spaces between the webbing strips of the first named unit.

MARION ROGERS JOYCE. 

